Gage for determining the age of horses



(No Model.)

A. BOLINGBR. GAGE FOR DETERMINING THE AGE OF HORSES. No. 478,560. PatentedJuly 12, 1892.

WIZJVESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW BOLIN GER, OE SPEEDWELL, TENNESSEE.

GAGE FOR DETERMINING THE AGE OF HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 478,560, dated July 12, 1892.

Application filed January 28, 892. Serial No. 419,584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW BOLINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Speedwell, in the county of Claiborne and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gages for Determining the Age of Horses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention ielates to improvements in gages or devices for determining, approximately, the ages of horses; and it consists in a gage having a tapered body portion with longitudinal and transverse lines and indicating-marks, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, the figure is an enlarged plan view of my invention.

A designates the gage, which is preferably made of metal and of triangular form, and adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges are marked parallel lines a, While transversely are a series of lines I), adjacent to which are placed indicating marks or figures which run consecutively, the lowest in value being at the widest portion of the gage.

To ascertain the approximate age of a horse, the-width of the cavity in the middle or bicuspid teeth of the lower jaw is ascertained by measurement and saidmeasurement placed upon the corresponding gage-line b, which will indicate the approximate age of the animal. As the marks upon the bicuspid teeth do not become prominent until the horse reaches the age of about five years, the device cannot be practically used upon horses under that age. As the size of teeth vary with the sizes of horses, the edge is used in ascertaining the ages of large horses, the inner line h for small horses, and theintermediate line for medium-sized horses.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is a 1. In a device for ascertaining the approximate age of a horse, a gage A, having a tapered body portion, one of the longitudinal edges thereof having longitudinal parallel lines adjacent thereto, transverse lines or marks, and figures adapted to be used in connection with the gage-lines, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A gage or device for ascertaining the approximate age of a horse, consisting of a plate A, of gradually decreasing width, spaced progressively from end to end by transverse gagelines, and indicating-figures adjacent to the transverse lines, the plate adjacent to one of its longitudinal edges having lines parallel with said edge, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW BOLINGER.

Witnesses ADALINE AUSMUS, EMMA AUsMUs. 

